Implement for affixing metal pick to flower stem

ABSTRACT

A portable implement having handle levers, pivotally connected to jaw assemblies for crimping the fingers on a sheet metal pick about the stem of a flower. The picks are displaced from a magazine by a slidable feed element into the jaw assemblies. A feed actuating mechanism is mounted on the lever handle assembly by a frame on which the feed and magazine are also carried.

United States Patent [191 Scotto June 25, 1974 IMPLEMENT FOR AFFIXINGMETAL PICK T0 FLOWER STEM [21] App]. No.2 365,142

Primary ExaminerThomas H. Eager Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Clarence A.OBrien; Harvey B. Jacobson [5 7] ABSTRACT A portable implement havinghandle levers, pivotally connected to jaw assemblies for crimping thefingers [52] U.S. Cl 29/212 1) n a sheet me l pick about the stem of aflower. The [51] Int. Cl B23 7/10 p c e splaced from a magazine by aslidable feed [58] Field of Sear h 29/212 1), 212 R, 212 P, element intothe jaw assemblies. A feed actuating 29/212 T mechanism is mounted onthe lever handle assembly by a frame on which the feed and magazine arealso References Cited carried.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,526,944 9/1970 Cherup 29/212 D 14 l5 DrawmgFlgures /4 76 72 i I26 P/ I M6 84 32 48 42 IMPLEMENT FOR AFFIXING METALPICK TO FLOWER STEM This invention relates to improvements in flowerstemming and more particularly to the application of flower picks of thesheet metallic type to the existing stem of a natural or artificialflower so as to reinforce and extend the same.

Sheet metal picks are affixed to the stems of fresh or artificialflowers to not only strengthen the stem but to facilitate its insertioninto supporting material such as foam when making flower arrangements.Although machines for automatically affixing such sheet metal picks toflower stems have been devised, widespread use has not beenmade thereofbecause of the bulkiness and inconvenience involved in utilizing suchstemming machines.

In accordance with the present invention, a hand carried implement hasbeen devised for automatically affixing a sheet metal pick to the stemof a flower. The implement is not only portable but is easily operatedwhile held in the users hand and carries its own supply of sheet metalpicks. The implement includes a pair of pivotally interconnected handlelevers to which crimping jaws are connected in order to crimp thefingers extending from a sheet metal pick about the stem of a flowerinserted between the jaws. The sheet metal picks are stacked in nestedrelation within a magazine carried by the implement forwardly of a trackmounted feed device through which the picks are displaced from a storageposition to a clamping position relative to the jaws. A feed actuatingmechanism is connected to the implement by means of the handle lever andjaw pivots. The actuating mechanism is thereby conveniently positionedfor operating the feed device while the implement is held by one of thehandle levers. The implement also is provided with a cutting mechanismin order to cut a flower stem to the desired length prior to affixingthe metal pick thereto.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the pick applying implement of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the implement shown in FIG. I withparts broken away and shown in section.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of the implement shown in FIGS. 1 and2.

FIG. 4 is a partial front elevational view of the implement shown inanother operational phase.

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view, of the implement, with partsbroken away and shown in section, in an operational phase correspondingto that of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the magazine section of theimplement with a stack of nested picks stored therein.

FIG. 7 is a partial front elevation view of the implement showing ametal pick in the storage position.

FIG. 8 is a partial front section view similar to that of FIG. 7 butshowing the pick displayed to the clamping position.

FIG. 9 is a partial bottom plan view of the implement in an open jawposition.

in FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 15-15 in FIG. 3.

Referring now to the drawingsin detail, the pick applying implement of.the present invention is shown vin FIGS. 1 and 2 and generally denotedby .reference numeral 10. The implement is dimensioned to fit within thehand of .the user and'includes a pair of lever=members l2 and 14pivotally interconnected intermediate the ends thereof by a pivot bolt16. The head of the pivot bolt and the assembly nut at the opposite endabut extensions 18 of the lever member 12 which overlap the lever member14. A sleeve 20 encircles the pivot bolt within the lever members asmore clearly seen in FIG. 2 to support thereon, a coil spring 22 fromwhich spring arms 24 extend rearwardly into abutment with the handgripportions 26 and'28 of the lever members so as to continuously bias thelever members outwardly relative to each other to positions shown inFIG. 1. In this position of the lever members 12 and 14, the endportions 30 and 32 forwardly of the pivot bolt 16, abut each other asmore clearly seen in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIGS. 2, 3 and 9, a pair of jaw assemblies 34 and 36are respectively pivotally connected to the forward end portions 30 and32 of the lever members by means of laterally spaced bolt assemblies 38.In the illustrated embodiment, each jaw assembly includes a plurality ofjaw plate elements 40 spaced from each other by spacer plates 42. Thejaw elements 40 of each of the jaw assemblies 34 and 36 are arranged instaggered relationship to each other so as to be'operatively alignedwith a sheet metal pick as will be explained hereafter. The jaw elements40 and spacer plates 42 are held assembled to each other in each of thejaw assemblies by a fastener element such as rivet 44 as more clearlyseen in FIG. 2. The jaw assemblies 34 and 36 are pivotally displacedabout pivot axes extending through pivot bolts 46 longitudinally spacedforwardly of the pivot bolt connections 38. The two jaw pivot bolts 46associated with the jaw assemblies are operatively interconnected withthe pivot bolt 16 for the lever members on the top side of the implement10 by means of a frame member 48 having a slot 49 slidably receiving theupper end of the pivot bolt 16. The jaw pivot bolts 46 areinterconnected on the bottom of the implement by means of a spacermember 50 as more clearly seen in FIG. 9 and below the frame 48 by aspacer 74. Thus, the jaw assemblies are held in the open position asmore clearly seen in FIG. 9 under the bias of the spring arms 24 on thehandle lever pivot bolt 16. Accordingly, when the handle levers aresqueezed toward each other against the bias of the spring arms 24, theforward end portions 30. and 32 thereof are pivotally displaced apart tomove the jaw assemblies to the closed position as shown in FIG. 10. Thejaw assemblies are thereby operative to crimp a sheet metal pick 52about the stem 54 of a flower 56 as shown in FIG. 13, in a manner to bedescribed hereafter in detail. The same implement may also be utilizedto cut the stem of a flower to a desired length and toward this end, thelower portions of the lever members 12 and 14, just rearwardly of thepivot bolt 16, are provided with cutting edge sections 58 and 60 as moreclearly seen in FIGS. 1, 9 and 14. A flower stem placed between thecutting edge sections 58 and 60 in the open position of the handlelevers, will be cut when the levers are squeezed together to thepositions shown in FIG. 10.

Referring now to FIGS. Ill and 12, the sheet metal pick 52 includes anelongated shank portion 62 that is V-shaped in cross-section. A point 64is formed at one end of the pick forwardly of tooth-forming notches 66.Extending laterally from the other end portion of the pick, are aplurality of deformable fingers 68 adapted to be crimped about the stemas shown in FIG. 13. These fingers 68 on opposite sides of thelongitudinal axis of the pick, are longitudinally spaced from each otherin staggered relationship in order to avoid interference when thefingers are crimped about the stem. The spacing and arrangement of thesefingers on the pick corresponds to the spacing and arrangement of thejaw elements 40 associated with the jaw assemblies 34 and 36. Thus, whenthe pick is held in a clamping position between the jaw assemblies, thefingers 68 will be clamped about a flower stem as the jaw assemblies aredisplaced to the closed position as shown in FIG. 10.

,Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the frame member 48 to which thepivot bolts 16 and 46 are connected, is formed from a flat plate ofrelatively narrow width adjacent to the pivot bolt 16 that divergestoward the forward end at which it is connected by fasteners 70 to anupstanding track member 72. The track member 72 also extends below theframe 48 as more clearly seen in FIG. 2 in close adjacency to the jawassemblies which are also spaced from the frame member by the spacer 74interconnecting the jaw pivot bolts 46. The frame accordingly overliesthe head of the connecting bolts 38. The track member 72 being spacedforwardly of the jaw pivot bolts 46, is arranged to guide displacementof sheet metal picks into the clamping position between the jawassemblies when opened, the picks beingwithdrawn from a magazine sectiongenerally referred to by reference numeral 76, of which the track member72 forms part. The track member also slidably supports a feed devicegenerally referred to by reference numeral 78 which is manually operatedby means of an actuating mechanism generally referred to by referencenumeral 80, the actuating mechanism being operatively mounted on theframe 48 as more clearly seen in FIG. 2.

The magazine section 76 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, includes a pair ofsupport fingers 82 that are secured by fasteners 84 to the track member72 and extend forwardly therefrom in laterally spaced relationship toeach other. The spacing 84 between the support fingers is dimensioned toreceive the shanks 62 of a plurality of sheet metal picks 52 stacked innested relationship against the track member 72 as more clearly seen inFIG. 6. Each of the support fingers is provided with a recess 86 at theend adjacent to the track member 72, dimensioned so as to permitslidable displacement of the rearmost pick of those stacked in themagazine section. Thus, a single one of the metallic picks stored in themagazine section may be slidably displaced from the stack by the feeddevice 78. In order to guide such slidable displacement of the rearmostpick, the track member 72 is centrally provided with a groove 88 as moreclearly seen in FIG. 3. The track member is also provided with a pair ofparallel spaced slots 90 on either side of the groove 88 through whichthe feed device projects into engagement with the rearmost pick. Thenested stack of picks is biased toward the track member 72 so as toinsure that the pick adjacent the track member 72 willbe in contacttherewith for slidable displacement by the feed device. Accordingly, thetrack member 72 is provided with an opening adjacent one side throughwhich a rod 92 extends. A pivotally swingable tab 94 is connected to oneend of the rod 92 and is adapted to be swung into engagement with theforwardmost pick in the nested stack as shown in FIG. 6. The rod 92extends through a guide sleeve 96 as more clearly seen in FIG. 1,rearwardly abutting the track member 72. A coil spring 98 is supportedon the rod 92 for reaction between the guide sleeve 96 and a thrustwasher I00 mounted at the end of the rod opposite the tab 94. It willtherefore be apparent, that a stack of sheet metal picks 52, may beinserted into the magazine section with the support fingers 84 extendingbetween the laterally extending fingers 68 of the picks as shown in FIG.6, after which the rod 92 is pushed forwardly against the bias of spring98 and the tab 94 swung into engagement with the forwardmost pick so asto apply the bias of the spring 98 to the nested stack of picks.

The feed device 78 includes a feed plate element 102 having a pair oflaterally spaced pushing elements 104 and 106 adapted to engage theuppermost fingers 68 on the sheet metal pick, as more clearly seen inFIGS. 11 and 12. The slide plate element 102 is slidably guided formovement within a guide slot 108 formed in the track member 72 as moreclearly seen in FIG. 15. The

pusher elements 104 and 106 project through the slots 90 by an amountsufficient to engage only the rearmost pick when thrust against thetrack member 72. A pick may thereby be displaced from the storageposition shown in FIG. 7 to the clamping position shown in FIG. 8 by thefeed device.

As more clearly seen in FIGS. 3, 9 and 15, a stripper member 110 issecured at its ends by fasteners 112 to the track member 72 and extendsforwardly therefrom so as to accommodate slidable displacement of thepicks by the feed device into the clamping position. The stripper member110 is accordingly connected to the track member in close spacedadjacency between the jaw assemblies 34 and 36 and the picks in thestorage position as shown in FIG. 7. The stripper member is providedwith an intumed central portion 114 as more clearly seen in FIG. 15 soas to firmly hold the pick in contact with the guide groove 88 as it isbeing displaced into the clamping position. A spring element 116anchored by the pin 118 to the stripper member exerts a yieldable biason the pick so as to hold it in contact with the track member.

The slide plate 102 of the feed device has an arm 120 projectingrearwardly therefrom from which a pin 122 extends laterally forreception within a slot 124 formed in the end of a feed lever 126associated with the actuating mechanism 80. Spaced pivot projections 128and 130 project upwardly from the frame 48 on either side of the feedlever 126 so as to support a pivot pin 132 on which the feed lever 126is fulcrumed and a support pin 134 for a spring 136 engaging the feedlever 126 in order to upwardly bias the feed lever and the feed device78 to a retracted position. The rear end of the feed lever 126 isprovided with a pin 138 engaged by a hook end 140 of an actuating lever142 which is fulcrumed by a pivot pin 144 supported by the pivot bracketextensions 130 of the frame. The actuating lever 14 2 extends rearwardlyfrom the pivot pin 144 and laterally, terminating in a finger actuatingportion 146 as more clearly seen in FIG. 1. Thus, the actuating lever142 is arranged for convenient manual depression by the operator whilegrasping the implement in the hand by means of one of the handgripportions 26 and 28. Downward displacement of the actuating lever 142from the position shown in FIG. 2 to the position shown in FIG. 5 willaccordingly displace the feed device downwardly to thereby withdraw oneof the picks 52 from the magazine section and position it in theclamping position as shown in FIG. 8.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A portable, hand carried implement for applying a pick to the stem ofa flower or the like, comprising a pair of handle levers having gripportions, a pivot interconnecting said levers, a frame operativelyconnected to said pivot, track means fixed to the frame for guidingmovement of said pick from a storage position to a clamping position,jaw means connected to said frame and the levers for crimping the pickin the clamping position about the stem in response to actuation of thegrip portion of the levers, feed means operatively mounted on the trackmeans for displacement of the pick to said clamping position, andactuating means mounted on the frame for operating the feed means.

2. The combination of claim 1 including magazine means connected to thetrack means for storing a plurality of the picks in nested relation.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said track means includes a platehaving spaced slots through which the feed means projects intoengagement with the pick in the storage position, and stripping meansmounted on the plate in close spaced adjacency between the pick in thestorage position and the jaw means for yieldably resisting displacementof the pick to the clamping position and holding the same within the jawmeans.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said feed means includes a slideslidably mounted on the track means and biased to a retracted positionby the actuating means, and a pair of pusher elements projecting fromthe slide through said slots in the plate of the track means.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said actuating means includes afeed lever pivotally mounted on the frame and operatively connected tothe slide of the feed means, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on theframe in engagement with the feed lever and extending longitudinallytherefrom in overlying relation to at least one of the handgrip portionsof the handle levers, and spring means biasing the feed lever foryieldably holding the feed means in said retracted posi- Hon.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said magazine means includes apair of support fingers projecting from the track means through thepicks to support the same in nested relation, means for biasing thepicks toward the track means, said fingers forming a guide slot with thetrack means through which one of the picks in engagement with the trackmeans is displaceable by the feed means.

7. The combination of claim 6 including cutter means mounted by thehandle levers for cutting the stem.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said track means includes a platehaving spaced slots through which the feed means projects intoengagement with the pick in the storage position, and stripping meansmounted on the plate in close spaced adjacency between the pick in thestorage position and the jaw means for yieldably resisting displacementof the pick to the clamping position and holding the same within the jawmeans.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said feed means includes a slideslidably mounted on the track means and biased to a retracted positionby the actuating means, and a pair of pusher elements projecting fromthe slide through said slots in the plate of the track means.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein said actuating means includes afeed lever pivotally mounted on the frame and operatively connected tothe slide of the feed means, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on theframe in engagement with the feed lever and extending longitudinallytherefrom in overlying relation to at least one of the handgrip portionsof the handle levers and spring means biasing the feed lever foryieldably holding the feed means in said retracted position.

11. The combination of claim 2 wherein said magazine means includes apair of support fingers projecting from the track means through thepicks to support the same in nested relation, means for biasingthe pickstoward the track means, said fingers forming a guide slot with the trackmeans through which one of the picks in engagement with the track meansis displaceable by the feed means;

12. The combination of claim 1 including cutter means mounted by thehandle levers for cutting the stem.

13. In a portable implement having a hand actuating assembly and jawsfor crimping picks to the stems of flowers or the like, a mounting frameconnected to the hand actuating assembly, and the jaws, a magazinemounted on the frame from which said picks are withdrawn, feed means fordisplacing one of the picks from the magazine into operative relation tothe jaws, and actuating means mounted on the frame for operating thefeed means.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said magazine includes trackmeans against which the picks are stacked in nested relation for guidingdisplacement of said one of the picks by the feed means, a pair ofsupport fingers projecting from the track means through the picks tosupport the same in nested relation, means for biasing the picks towardthe track means, said fingers forming a guide slot with the track meansthrough which said one of the picks in engagement with the track meansis displaceable by the feed means.

1. A portable, hand carried implement for applying a pick to thE stem ofa flower or the like, comprising a pair of handle levers having gripportions, a pivot interconnecting said levers, a frame operativelyconnected to said pivot, track means fixed to the frame for guidingmovement of said pick from a storage position to a clamping position,jaw means connected to said frame and the levers for crimping the pickin the clamping position about the stem in response to actuation of thegrip portion of the levers, feed means operatively mounted on the trackmeans for displacement of the pick to said clamping position, andactuating means mounted on the frame for operating the feed means. 2.The combination of claim 1 including magazine means connected to thetrack means for storing a plurality of the picks in nested relation. 3.The combination of claim 2 wherein said track means includes a platehaving spaced slots through which the feed means projects intoengagement with the pick in the storage position, and stripping meansmounted on the plate in close spaced adjacency between the pick in thestorage position and the jaw means for yieldably resisting displacementof the pick to the clamping position and holding the same within the jawmeans.
 4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said feed means includes aslide slidably mounted on the track means and biased to a retractedposition by the actuating means, and a pair of pusher elementsprojecting from the slide through said slots in the plate of the trackmeans.
 5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said actuating meansincludes a feed lever pivotally mounted on the frame and operativelyconnected to the slide of the feed means, an actuating lever pivotallymounted on the frame in engagement with the feed lever and extendinglongitudinally therefrom in overlying relation to at least one of thehandgrip portions of the handle levers, and spring means biasing thefeed lever for yieldably holding the feed means in said retractedposition.
 6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said magazine meansincludes a pair of support fingers projecting from the track meansthrough the picks to support the same in nested relation, means forbiasing the picks toward the track means, said fingers forming a guideslot with the track means through which one of the picks in engagementwith the track means is displaceable by the feed means.
 7. Thecombination of claim 6 including cutter means mounted by the handlelevers for cutting the stem.
 8. The combination of claim 1 wherein saidtrack means includes a plate having spaced slots through which the feedmeans projects into engagement with the pick in the storage position,and stripping means mounted on the plate in close spaced adjacencybetween the pick in the storage position and the jaw means for yieldablyresisting displacement of the pick to the clamping position and holdingthe same within the jaw means.
 9. The combination of claim 8 whereinsaid feed means includes a slide slidably mounted on the track means andbiased to a retracted position by the actuating means, and a pair ofpusher elements projecting from the slide through said slots in theplate of the track means.
 10. The combination of claim 9 wherein saidactuating means includes a feed lever pivotally mounted on the frame andoperatively connected to the slide of the feed means, an actuating leverpivotally mounted on the frame in engagement with the feed lever andextending longitudinally therefrom in overlying relation to at least oneof the handgrip portions of the handle levers and spring means biasingthe feed lever for yieldably holding the feed means in said retractedposition.
 11. The combination of claim 2 wherein said magazine meansincludes a pair of support fingers projecting from the track meansthrough the picks to support the same in nested relation, means forbiasing the picks toward the track means, said fingers forming a guideslot with the track means through which one of the picks in engagementwith the track means is displaceable by the feed meaNs.
 12. Thecombination of claim 1 including cutter means mounted by the handlelevers for cutting the stem.
 13. In a portable implement having a handactuating assembly and jaws for crimping picks to the stems of flowersor the like, a mounting frame connected to the hand actuating assembly,and the jaws, a magazine mounted on the frame from which said picks arewithdrawn, feed means for displacing one of the picks from the magazineinto operative relation to the jaws, and actuating means mounted on theframe for operating the feed means.
 14. The combination of claim 13wherein said magazine includes track means against which the picks arestacked in nested relation for guiding displacement of said one of thepicks by the feed means, a pair of support fingers projecting from thetrack means through the picks to support the same in nested relation,means for biasing the picks toward the track means, said fingers forminga guide slot with the track means through which said one of the picks inengagement with the track means is displaceable by the feed means.